Floods in Jakarta, Indonesia
4 February 2002
LATEST INFORMATION FROM NEWS PAPERS
An official at the Geophysical and Meteorological Agency (BMG), Mr. Maman, said the rains were linked to typhoon Chris which is moving from Australia at a speed of five knots, or about 9 km/hr, but could reach 55 knots soon. There will be bad rains in the coming days, but they will eventually ease by the end of this month,".
Apart from the trash clogging up waterways, other factors contributing to the floods in the city were high tides in the Java Sea, the poor state of the drainage system and unregulated building on catchment area. Another reason for the city's vulnerability to floods is the fact that around 40 percent of the capital lies below sea level
In terms of surface, the floods are now covering between 15 to 20 percent of the city's surface, mainly in West and East Jakarta, but the water is slowly receding," a Jakarta Flood Control Post official said Sunday
On Saturday long queues formed at the city's main supermarkets as residents went on a buying spree in anticipation of a food shortage due to distribution difficulties.
On Saturday, Industry and Trade Minister Rini Suwandi warned that flood problems could mean the capital's food stock was only estimated to last for two weeks
The death toll from flood-related incidents in the capital and satellite towns since Tuesday now stands at 29. At least 26 more people have died elsewhere in the archipelago, according to officials and media reports.
WHO ACTION:
WHO is in contact with Minister of Health Crisis Centre (PPMK) and with UN Security Officer in order to bridge GoI and UN for quickly response to the needs. (i.e. WHO facilitated the way to obtain and distribute water purification tablets)
Upon PPMK request, WHO will supply equipment to the mobile medical teams.
WHO/INO Program Officer is following up the situation of the WHO staff affected by the floods and monitoring the needed support